Float device



Nov. 28, 1961 E. A. HURD 3, 3

FLOAT DEVICE Filed June 3.3, 1960 BY w q ATTORNEYS te Sf3i atent 3,010,133 Patented Nov. 28, 1961 Thisinvention has to do with improvements in float devices for finishing the outer surfaces of plaster or stucco walls.

It is an object of my invention to provide a float embodying an elastic,.rubber-like body, or padgfor wiping engagement with a wall surface, in combination with novel means for detachably and firmly securing a handle and supporting member to the body to enable renewal of the body when it becomes worn or otherwise requires servicing. Other more subordinate objects will appear hereinafter.

While I shall point out in the appended claims the features which I believe to be new, I shall now, for the purpose of explaining how my invention may be carried into practice, describe a presently preferred embodiment thereof, for which purpose I shall refer to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation, of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the body portion of my float;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section showing one of the transversely spaced grooves before the rod is mounted therein; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section.

Referring now to the drawing, I show my float as comprising a rectangular body 5 of an elastic, rubber-like material, preferably sponge rubber, which it is my preference to make approximately thick, approximately 9 /2" in length and approximately 4" in width, although those particular dimensions are not critical and may be varied as desired.

To the top surface of the body I detachably secure, in the manner to be hereinafter described, a substantially rigid plate 10, which is preferably of metal, to which plate I secure a handle as by screws 16.

The construction of and the manner in which the plate 10 is detachably secured to the body 5 will now be described:

In making my float, I form a pair of transversely spaced, parallel grooves lengthwise in the top surface of the body and dispose a metal rod 22 lengthwise in each groove, and fill each groove with a filling 24 of a suitable cement. Before the cement sets, I force downwardly into each groove, against the cement, a strip of wire, plastic or fiberglass screen 26 until some of the cement becomes extruded through the mesh of the screen. The screen is of a width equal to the Width of the groove so that it becomes countersunk in the groove. I then allow the cement to set and, after it has set, the rods 22 and the screen strips 26 become integrated with the body. I then form in the top surface of the body, by means of any suitable cutting tool, a plurality of laterally spaced recesses 30, each of which recesses intersects a groove and extends beneath the rod 22 therein.

At longitudinally spaced points along the marginal portion of each side of the plate 10, I strike out of the plate a plurality of ears 35, 36. The endmost of these ears, 35, are bent downwardly and outwardly and the intermediate ears, 36, are bent downwardly and inwardly. Said respective ears are so positioned as to be in register with the respective recesses 30' for insertion therein, and each is of such length that it will engage beneath the rod 20 in the groove.

To assemble myfloat, I place theplateltlagainst .the

-topsurface of the body,with-.the ears 3'5, 36 inregister with the respective recesses 30, and bytransversely stretch- .ing or deforming the bodyandpressing'the platedown- -wardly thereagainst, theears becomeengaged beneath the rods, theresiliency orelasticity of'thebody then detachably but'firmlyretaining the plate in position atop the body. The plate may be removed from the body .by likewise transverselystretching or Jdeforming the body.

The plate 10 is of a width andlength preferably at least /2"-less than the width and length of the body,iso thatthe marginal portions 5a of the body may be flexed during use.

The marginal portions 40 of the plate at each side of the respective ears bear downwardly against the top surface of the body overlying the grooves to further prevent any accidental escape of the cars from beneath the rods during use of the float.

I claim:

1. A float device for finishing plaster surfaces, comprising a resilient rectangular body of sponge rubber material having a plaster-engaging bottom surface and having a pair of substantially rigid rods embedded in its top portion, said rods being spaced apart transversely of said body and extending longitudinally thereof, a substantially rigid plate engaging the top surface of said body, an ear struck out of one side edge portion of said plate, another ear struck out of the opposite side edge portion of said plate, said ears being bent out of the plane of said plate and engaging beneath said respective rods when said body is not transversely deformed as to width and having their end extremities so spaced apart in relation to the transverse spacing of said rods that, when said body is trans versely deformed, said ears may be inserted under or disengaged from beneath said rods; and a handle stationarily carried by said plate.

2. A float device for finishing plaster surfaces, com prising a resilient rectangular body of sponge rubber material having a plaster-engaging bottom surface and having a pair of substantially rigid rods embedded in its top portion, said rods being spaced apart transversely of said body and extending longitudinally thereof, a substantially rigid rectangular plate engaging the top surface of said body and having a pair of oppositely disposed ears struck out of the opposite side edge portions of said plate, bent downwardly and outwardly out of the plane of-said plate and engaging beneath said rods, the transverse spacing of said rods being less than the distance between the outer end extremities of said ears whereby it is necessary to transversely stretch said body in order to engage said ears under and disengage them from beneath said rods, and a handle secured to said plate.

3. A float device for finishing plaster surfaces, comprising a resilient rectangular body of sponge rubber material having a plaster-engaging bottom surface and having a pair of substantially rigid rods embedded in its top portion, said rods being spaced apart transversely of said body and extending longitudinally thereof, a substantially rigid rectangular plate engaging the top surface of said body and having a pair of oppositely disposed ears struck out of the opposite side edge portions of said plate, bent downwardly and inwardly out of the plane of said plate and engaging beneath said rods, the transverse spacing of said rods being greater than the distance between the contiguous end extremities of said ears whereby it is necessary to transversely compress said body in order to engage said ears under and disengage them from beneath said rods, and a handle carried by said plate.

4. A float device for finishing plaster surfaces, comprising a resilient rectangular body of sponge rubber material having a plaster-engaging bottom surface and having a pair of substantially rigid rods embedded in its top portion, said rods being spaced apart transversely of said body and extending longitudinally thereof, a substantially rigid plate engaging the top surface of said body, three longitudinally spaced ears struck out of each of the opposite side edge portions of said plate, two of the said ears struck out of each side edge portion of said body being bent downwardly and outwardly out of the plane of said plate into position engaging beneath the contiguous one of said rods, and the other of said ears struck out of said last-mentioned side edge portion of said plate being bent downwardly and inwardly out of the plane of said plate, into position engaging beneath the contiguous one of said rods, whereby in order to engage said downwardly and outwardly bent ears under and disengage them from beneath said rods it is necessary to transversely stretch said 4 body and whereby in order to engage said downwardly and inwardly bent ears under and disengage them from beneath said rods it is necessary to transversely compress said body, and a handle carried by the top surface of said plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,627,410 Rowley May 3, 1927 2,708,282 Vaughn May 17, 1955 2,910,714 Becker Nov. 3, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 206,065 France Apr. 26, 1908 

